Less visited lakes of Slovenia

As you found this page you might have already booked your motorhome or are thinking about visiting Slovenia and exploring it off the beaten path.

I am sure you have heard about Bled. This Alpine lake with the only island in Slovenia has been a world-renowned paradise for centuries and impressed everyone with its natural beauty. It is the most popular place to visit amongst tourists.

If you are not the biggest fan of the crowds and you prefer exploring new places on four wheels than continue reading this blog.

Less visited south of Slovenia also has many beautiful spots. If you are based in Ljubljana, you can easily explore the area by doing day trips. That’s the advantage of our little country. All is accessible within an hour drive. But for sure the better way to explore and really immerse yourself in local culture and place is by spending more time and having the freedom to drive and stop anywhere eye-catching. In this case a road-tripping by campervan is the way!

If you are driving from Ljubljana towards south, I would suggest taking side roads rather than highways. Just because the views of endless forests are so much nicer and it’s all about the journey not the destination, remember?

The first lake on your way to the south is Lake Rakitna. The village of Rakitna lies in the heart of a large karst plateau surrounded by the Krim-Mokrice Hill Range, at a height of 800 metres above sea level. Famous for its healthful climate. Lake Rakitna is the base for a popular 40-minute circular walk and a one-and-a-half-hour archaeological trail leading to the remains of a 3rd century tower and wall, part of a Roman defence system known as Claustra Alpium Iuliarum. The village of Rakitna is also the starting point for several longer hiking and cycling routes, the most popular leading to the nearby Mount Krim (1,107m).

From here a scenic road takes you down to Cerknica and its lake. Lake Cerknica is a karst plateau which in high rainfall becomes the biggest lake of Slovenia (more than 30 km2), while in dry summer months completely disappears. The lake normally stays around 9 months a year. At any water level it offers stunning views of the area and different options for spending your leisure time. Depending on the water level, you can paddle, hike, go fishing or grass mowing in the same area in just one year. Lake Cerknica is one of the largest intermittent lakes in Europe and very important wetland with an impressive biotic diversity.

Just over half an hour drive away through the woods are Pivka intermittent lakes. When you reach Slovenska vas, which is located only few kilometres away from Pivka town, you will find The Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Ecomuseum which presents the story about the water in the karst world of Upper Pivka.

The main attraction of the landscape are the Pivka seasonal lakes. There are 17 lakes in the area of 15 kilometres, which is unique to the entire Europe. The mysterious lake landscape changes every day, so you can visit it again and again and it will always be different. The rich cultural heritage, which reaches all the way back to the Stone Age wrote many interesting stories, which are worth exploring. Nature, being the greatest of artist, makes wandering around the park rewarding all year round. Yet the best would be in spring or fall when the lakes are filled with water. The northernmost Jeredovce lake is the first in the group of lakes which ends in the south with Šembijsko lake.

With its bottom at the altitude of 532 m, Lake Petelinjsko is the lowest situated lake in the group. Consequently, this lake is the most long-lasting of all lakes in the region and remains for up to six months.

Radohovsko lake is the only lake situated on the left bank of the Pivka river. It emerges at the foothill of Primož and flows underground into the Pivka river.

Lake Palško is the largest in the group of the seasonal lakes of Pivka. It lies 2 kilometres to the east of the Pivka river, north of the village of Palčje.

Laneno lake is the highest lying lake in Upper Pivka and is thus only rarely flooded.

Come to visit this area yourself and decide which is your favourite lake of them all.

The Bloke Plateau is an extensive bowl-like plateau in southwest Slovenia. The altitude is between 700 meters (2,300 ft) and 800 meters (2,600 ft). Therefore, the climate is colder than most of Slovenia. Winters can indeed be harsh here, but in summer, the temperatures are gentler, and Bloke offers a pleasant retreat from the summer heat. There is plenty of biking and hiking trails in this intact nature.

The main source of surface water in Bloke is Bloščica which is famous for its meanders. Apart of the river, there is an artificial lake called Lake Bloke, located by Volčje town. The lake was created after the dam on the stream was made. In 2003, the lake was thoroughly restored to a well-maintained bathing area. Lake Bloke has thus become a central tourist and recreation point in the municipality.

After about an hour drive towards East, you reach another region, Kočevsko, and another Slovenian less visited lake. The lake Kočevje, also called Rudniško lake, is one of the cleanest lakes in Slovenia and offers many options to relax your body and soul. The artificial lake was formed between 1973 and 1978. Initially there were two large ponds at the bottom of the opencast mining pit of the Kočevje brown coal mine. The Rudniški stream flew from the mine filling the ponds with water before disappearing underground and flowing in the other mine brook into a single flow. Water was pumped out of the ponds during the coal excavation and used in the screening facility for coal washing. The lake is 40 m deep; it surfaces measure 1,5 km2 with about 3 km of the coastline. In the summer, the lake is an attractive destination for everyone who enjoys swimming, surfing, boating, diving, while in the wintertime it offers a great scenery for ice-skating.

In the region of Kočevsko the forest reigns. This is the most wooded area of Slovenia where more than 90% of the surface is covered with trees. The Kočevsko region offers a primeval experience of the forest, where you can feel the healing power of ancient trees. Breathe in fresh forest air, listen to the sound of birds, observe the movement of treetops in the wind, caress tree trunks and simply become one with nature. The mighty nature of the forests of Kočevsko leaves a deep impression that arouses a desire to return.

The most powerful resident of the forests of Kočevsko is the majestic brown bear. With some luck, wildlife can also be seen simply while walking through the forest. If you keep your senses sharp, you could spot a deer, roe deer, lynx, fox, wolf or wild boar. You can observe the wild animals in an organised group with experienced guides who know the forest well.

If you prefer nature to hordes of tourists than south of Slovenia is what you should put on your travel list. Book your accomodation on four wheels with Slovenia Camper today.